Grid for cotton-picker machines



March '1, 1925. 1,530,286

L.. D. ARMSTRONG GRID FOR COTTON PICKER. MACHINES Filed July 18, 192:5

Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

'LINUS DI AXRMSTEO'NGZ, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE'ISLAND.-

y GRID F0132 COTTON-PICKER MACHINES. y

To aZZ-.Ifwiom tf/nay concer/m. l

-Be'.'itffknown fthat I; IaNUs iD. ARMSTRONG, ascitizen'L ofthe.` United States, residingI at rProvidence,l `in the county/of Providence :and

Staterof- Rhede'.Island,` i have; invented certain newcfalnd.: useful .Improvements in z GrridsKA for Y(tettonaPickerI Machines, of which! the following isla specification. e

.'Illiisfiinventionrelates to improvement-s in the constructions of grids: for.v cotton :pickers andthelobj ect of .this invention is t'o` provide a gridiforfthe purpose'ofcleaning ,the :cotton which passesathrouglrthe. picker, the grid beingfprovidedwithfside plates and anotched slide.- plate mounted z to bev VadjustedI on one "oflsaiidiSide'plates,` a ser-iesj-offgridv bars besrsv ingi engagedzat ione ;end` by ythe .slide plate and pivotallymounted; tol rock in: said side plates y-.movementof said: slidevplate; and; lsaid slide plate being movable by means of ansoperating lever which is pivoted in the side plate,.wlierebyfa.movementof the lever adjusts the grid bars through a movement of the slide plate, and means being provided for locking the slide plate in adjusted position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one of the side plates in which the grid bars are pivotally mounted; also showing the operating lever Vand the slide plate dotted in position on the side plate.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the slide plate detached from the side plates; and showing its operating lever as connected thereto. u

Figure 3 is an end view partly in section showing a portion of one of the grid bars pivotally mounted in the side plate; also showing the slide plate as engaged by its operating handle. Y

Figure Alis an enlarged perspective view of a portion of one of the grid bars. v

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the side plate showing the notches therein, in which the grid bars are rotatably mounted on their trunnions.

It is found in the practical constructionV and operation of grids for cotton pickers, of advantage to provide and pivotally mount a series of grid bars whereby their operating angle.` may be. simultaneously, adjusted. rockingthe barsupon their/,pivotal axis so as toactmpon differekmt:y qualities ofmaterial which arejfpassedf through the picker,and'y to so. constructithe'4 movable parts off the z grid thatmthey yvvill'fnot be clogged by foreign ,matter removed. from the cotton andlto. also p rovidea lever liavinga handle of such a :lengthfthatfitmay be readilyy engaged and moved. toroperate the grid bars yto adjust themto the required'positionalso to provide means :whereby thesemovable members-may be securely locked" in' any `adj usted position;

and the followingiis a, detailed description of; one meansY by whichathese advantageous results maybe accomplished'zo l/Vgithreferenbe to the drawings10desig nates the side plates which are secured by nieansl of bolts 11 tov the inner facesofthe oppositev side` frames. of the,cott on picking `machine v('notf`shown) Theseplates. are.

p`r. eferablfv'` vformed oni the arc Vof a v circle and vtliej upper edge tli'ereofis provided with Va series of recesses 12 over the top of which is secured a plate 13. These side plates are also provided with an arc shaped slot 14 into which the laterally extending flange 15 of the slide plate 16 extends and slides. This flange 15 is preferably notched on its edge as at 17 for the purpose of engaging the lower edge of the grid bars 18. Each of these grid bars 18 is provided with end trunnions 30 which are mounted to rock in the recesses 12 of the opposite side plates 10.' The lower edge of this slide plate is provided with av deep notch V19 into which the upper end 20 of l bound in any adjusted position to lock the slide plate and the grid bars after having received the required adjustment.

In addition to the locking vnut 26 on the lever 21, I have also provided a locking and stroke-limiting screw 27 in the slide plate extending through a slot in the side plate, in a position adjacent thepoint of engagement of the slide plate with the grid bars, whereby by setting up this latter screw the slide plate is also bound in adjusted position to provide a double lock and so positively prevent any movement of the slide plate after having been adjusted.

By my improved construction of operating lever for the slide plate, the slot 19 formed in this plate is open at its lower edge thereby preventing any accumulation of foreign matter therein which might serve to bind and prevent the free a-djusting movement of the operating lever.

My improved construction of grid for cotton pickers is extremely simple and inexpensive to construct, is easy to apply and is very effective in its Operation, and by its use the grid bars may be nicely adjusted and firmly locked and secured in such adjusted position.

rIhe foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being deiined and limit-ed only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A grid for a cotton picker, having side plates, a notched slide plate mounted on one side plate, a series of grid bars engaging the notches in said slide plate and mounted to be rocked in said side plates by the movement ot said slide plate, a slide plate operating lever pivoted in said side plate and having one end in engagement with said slide plate, means adjacent the application of strain tending to` cause a relative movement of said plates Jr'or locking said slide plate in adjusted position, and means for locking said lever in adjusted position.

2. In a grid tor cotton pickers, 'a curved side plate having an arcuate slot therein, a plate slidably mounted on said side plate having a. portion with a notched edge laterally extending at right angles thereto through said slot, a series of grid bars the ends ot which are engaged by the notches oi said slide plate and pivotally mounted to be rocked in said side plates by the movement 'of said slide plate, saidslide plate having a deep notch in its lower edge, a slide plate operating lever pivoted in said side plate with its upper end extending into said notch whereby' a movement. of said lever moves said slide plate to adjust said bars to the desired angle, and means for locking the slide plate in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

LINUS D. ARMSTRONG. 

